Three challengers are hoping to win this seat from incumbent Allan Rumbolt. Moses Appapaq almost won this constituency in 2004 and has a long history in politics pre-division. Lucy Uppik and Frank Audla are running for the first time.

Moses Appaqaq

Moses Appaqaq, 67, is no stranger to politics. He spent two terms representing Hudson Bay in the Northwest Territories legislature starting in 1979. He ran in the Nunavut election in 1999 and 2004, but came second in both years.

Appaqaq is currently vice-chair/director at Qikiqtaaluk Corporation. He also spends much of his time hunting and fishing at his cabin, and if elected, he’ll focus on issues that affect hunters.

He wants to see the roads on the land fixed up, and bridges built over rivers that hunters cross frequently. He also wants to see the road into Sanikiluaq renewed. And he’d like to see a search and rescue boat located in the hamlet.

Appaqaq is one of four candidates in this election who speaks Inuktitut only.

Frank Audla

Frank Audla, 41, grew up in Resolute Bay but moved to Sanikiluaq in 1987.

Right now, he’s a stay-at-home caregiver looking after his dad. Audla says his most recent job was studying at Nunavut Arctic College.

He says he’s running “to help the community get more of what they deserve.” According to Audla, that includes a place where young boys and girls can learn life skills. He also wants to see a search and rescue boat in town, and repairs made to the community freezer, “which hasn’t been fixed in five or 10 years.”

Allan Rumbolt

Originally from Newfoundland, Allan Rumbolt, 46, moved north to work for the Northwest Company in Arviat, Baker Lake and Chesterfield Inlet. He wound up in Sanikiluaq in 1990 and stayed on, becoming the manager of the local housing association and later, working as a heavy equipment operator for the hamlet.

Rumbolt spent two years on the hamlet council and two years with the District Education Authority before being elected to the legislature in 2008. He’s running again because he says his work isn’t finished.

If elected, he wants to see a new health centre built in Sanikiluaq. He also wants to fix the medical contract that forces elders to fly to appointments in cramped airplanes. And he wants to finish work on legislation that will make it mandatory for municipalities to offer pensions to their workers.

Lucy Uppik

Lucy Uppik, 61, grew up in Kuujjuaraapik and moved to Sanikiluaq in 1985.

She worked for 16 years as a translator at the health centre. Now she works part-time when the dentist comes to town. She’s also on the community health committee.

Asked why she’s running in this election, Uppik says she just wants to help the community.

She says there are a lot of things that need to be fixed up in Sanikiluaq, including the health centre and community hall. She also wants to see a swimming pool open in the community.

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